Tennis-Serena Williams thrashes Davenport in Masters Series

Serena Williams crushed Lindsay Davenport 6-1 6-2 - her heaviest defeat in six years - in the $2.05 million Indian Wells Masters Series quarter-finals on Wednesday.

Williams, beaten by fellow American Davenport at last year's U.S. Open, played an almost flawless match. She committed only 14 unforced errors.

The defending Indian Wells champion and second seed reckoned it was the worst match she had ever played.

"I feel like it was, but I won't take any credit from Serena because she played great," said the former world number one.

"I definitely didn't make the match any tougher for her by making a lot of errors. Getting off to a slow start made me play worse and worse as the match went on."

Davenport last suffered such a serious hiding when she was beaten 6-1 6-2 by Kimiko Date in the 1995 Tokyo final.

Williams said she felt as if she had been touched by an angel.

"I played almost an immaculate match," said Williams, winner here two years ago,"I don't usually make so few errors but that's what I've been working on. Everyone is surprised I'm playing so consistently. But this is the new Serena. I'm trying to change. Don't be surprised. There comes a time when everyone changes.

Davenport was unable to control the centre of the court, nor was she able to deal with Williams's second serves.

She did not change tactics either, something her coach Robert Van't Hoff had implored her to do if she was in trouble.

"I didn't think I've ever felt that spastic on court in a number of years," said Davenport, winner in Scottsdale last week. "I'm not really sure how to react, I'm a little shocked. Because normally when I lose I feel I played OK. I'm a little in awe of what happened."

Although she is playing only her third event of the year, Williams said she felt in top form. She won most of the crosscourt forehand rallies and frequently handcuffed her opponent with hard second serves into her body. She said she was primed for another run to the title.

Williams will now play her sister Venus, a comfortable 6-0 6-3 winner against Russian Elena Dementieva.

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